Blog
180 Change: Sabrina’s Story
Without the support of her parents, CHRIS 180 client Sabrina was facing homelessness at age 18. She was connected to CHRIS 180 where she found the stability, acceptance, and resources that could help her make 180-degree change in her life. Sabrina originally shared...
CHRIS 180 Sets Record at Annual Fundraiser
40th Anniversary Celebration for nonprofit brings in more than $800,000 Atlanta-based mental health nonprofit CHRIS 180 celebrated its legacy of leadership during its largest fundraiser, The CHRIStal Ball, on August 19. The event raised over $800,000—a record-breaking...
An Open Letter to Those Who Served in Afghanistan, From Those Who Served in Iraq
Dearest Women & Men Who Served in Afghanistan, My heart bends, twists, and breaks for you. It bends for those who left marriages and relationships in the pastel poppy fields of Helmand. It twists for those who made personal puddles in mud in Korengal. And breaks...
Family Mindfulness Activities
There are infinite ways to practice mindfulness. Well-known mindfulness practices include breathing exercises, sensory activities, meditation and mindful movement like yoga. But any activity can be made mindful by “paying attention, on purpose” to it and maintaining...
CHRIS 180 Hosts Annual Fundraiser at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
40th Anniversary Celebration for nonprofit highlights a legacy of leadership Atlanta-based mental health nonprofit CHRIS 180 is preparing its largest fundraiser, The CHRIStal Ball, as an in-person & virtual event on Thursday, August 19 at 6:00 P.M. at the...
Brothers Find Forever Family
Almost two years from the day they first arrived at CHRIS 180’s Gateway to Adoption program, brothers Logan and Layne were adopted into their forever family! Sibling relationships can provide support, love, and stability, but siblings in foster care often experience...
CHRIS 180 Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Motherhood Housing Initiative
Home for neighborhood matriarch will provide stability for young mothers CHRIS 180, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing trauma-informed holistic health services to children, youth and families, held a groundbreaking ceremony to...
Escaping the Everyday: Healthy Ways to Cope with Life Stressors
We all need rest to function well in each area of our lives. Sleep, exercise, video games and spending time with loved ones are a few examples of activities commonly used to recharge. But sometimes, what you think is a break is actually a form of escapism that saps...
Emotional Trauma: How Post-Traumatic Stress Impacts Our Brains
Often when the term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is used, it is associated with members of the military, especially war veterans. As times change and people become more familiar with trauma and its impact on each of our lives, we are starting to recognize...
The Impact of Therapy on LGBTQ+ Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Michelle’s Story When Michelle lost her housing, a friend told her about CHRIS 180 and our Drop-In Center. The Drop-In Center provides a range of free services for youth ages 16-24 who are experiencing homelessness. These services include meals, life coaching, job and...
How to Help a Child Name Their Feelings
Children are small people with very big emotions. Although they can show you what they are feeling, most children have yet to attach a name to their feelings and have not learned healthy ways of dealing with their emotions. As children grow, they face many challenges...
Celebrating Fathers and Changing Lives at Cure Violence’s Fatherhood Sessions
For Johnny Brown, Fatherhood Session Coordinator at CHRIS 180’s Violence Prevention Program, helping fathers is a calling. “All of us are on this journey of being fathers,” Johnny shared. “We work with participants to learn the life skills to be able to work, stay out...
A Milestone of Service
On June 8, 1981, a new nonprofit organization named Georgia CHARLEE opened its doors to fill gaps in the foster care system. Georgia CHARLEE – now known as CHRIS 180 – was organized by a purpose-driven group of women from The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. (JLA), who...
Bringing a Mother’s Love to Children in Foster Care
Valancia Abdullah considers it her calling to care for youth who some may think of as “challenged.” After working with special needs students at Atlanta Public Schools, in 2000, she joined CHRIS 180’s foster care program. She serves as a Resident Assistant. The kids...
Statement from Our President & CEO
We stand with our Asian American colleagues, partners, clients and all affected in the wake of the horrific mass shootings in Atlanta and Acworth. This act of terrorism has produced additional anxiety and unease in the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community,...
A voice for the silent victims
Did you know that children are now seen as the silent victims of the opioid epidemic? CHRIS 180’s HERO Program (Helping Restore Children and Families Affected by the Opioid Epidemic), was created to provide direct services, psychoeducational training and a community...
Not just a month: honoring Black pioneers in mental health
The beginning of the year is full of traditions, even during a pandemic. From New Year’s Day, the MLK Holiday Weekend, and just a few weeks later, February kicks off a month-long celebration honoring Black History. The commemoration allows us to pause, acknowledge and...
Giving back from home: Serving with CHRIS 180 virtually
I closed my laptop at 5:00 p.m. on a Friday and did my now very familiar quarantine routine of moving from my makeshift desk at the kitchen table to the couch in the living room. I scrolled through Netflix (and Hulu, HBO & Amazon) before finally just putting on...
CHRIS 180 Announces New Addition to Board of Directors
Nonprofit celebrates 40th Anniversary in 2021 CHRIS 180 is pleased to announce the addition of seven new members to its board of directors, who will serve over the coming years. They include Lori Chennault, Senior Vice President & Sourcing Officer,...
Goodbye 2020 – Welcome 2021
Over and over I’ve heard people remark that they were so ready for 2020 to be over. And with the start of the new year, we are all looking forward to a better 2021 - a new beginning, a path to recovery. At the same time, there just might be some things that we...
Present Moments
‘Tis the season to pause and reflect on the past year as a new one approaches, and oh what a year it has been! 2020 started off as a promising new decade, with exciting goals, dreams and resolutions. But as we all know, a few months into it, all our hopes and plans...